INDIAN WELLS, Calif., March 3, 2004 - A healthy mix of well-known veterans and up-and-coming youngsters are among the players awarded wild cards into the Pacific Life Open, as announced today by Tournament Director Charles Pasarell. Established pros such as Alex Corretja, Thomas Enqvist, Tommy Haas, Marat Safin, Alexandra Stevenson and Iva Majoli join youngsters Alex Bogomolov, Tatiana Golovin, Viktoriya Kutuzova and Angela Haynes in the main draw.

The Pacific Life Open, held March 8-21 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, will award a total of 24 wild cards. For the women's event, nine main draw and six qualifying draw entries are provided; on the men's side, the tournament has five main draw and four qualifying draw wild cards available. Qualifying wild cards will be announced prior to the draw selection on Sunday, March 7.

"I've never seen a wild card list with so many outstanding, recognizable and accomplished players," said Pasarell. "Together, they've won more than 60 titles, including 10 Tennis Masters Series events."

The remaining women's main draw wild cards have been awarded to Maria Kirilenko of Russia and Sesil Karatancheva of Bulgaria, with two additional spots to be determined.

Among the most accomplished players on the list are Enqvist, who has won 19 career singles titles, including three Tennis Masters Series wins, and Corretja, winner of 17 crowns, three of them in TMS tournaments. Safin (U.S. Open, 2000) and Majoli (Roland Garros, 1997) are both former Grand Slam champions.

"We have a great history of success with our wild cards," added Pasarell. "I remember giving one to a guy named Sampras one year and another to a guy named Courier, before anyone really knew who they were. Next thing you know, they're winning Grand Slams."